SeasonMapWhat's on in Minneapolis, United States through the year
Minneapolis, United States has 5 curated events through the year — 3 festivals, 1 natural spectacle and 1 season. The ones to plan around: Art-A-Whirl (May) and Minnesota State Fair (August). July to September are its peak-crowd months.
Updated September 2026 · every event curated and sourced · dates for 2026 where they are announced, the usual window where they are not
Minneapolis events and crowds by month
January in Minneapolis
Minneapolis weather in January →Busy — Winter / Christmas break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it
Nothing new starts in January.
Still on: Lakes frozen (10 Dec – 15 Mar (usually))
February in Minneapolis
Minneapolis weather in February →Quiet — one of its worst months for weather
Nothing new starts in February.
Still on: Lakes frozen (10 Dec – 15 Mar (usually))
March in Minneapolis
Minneapolis weather in March →Busy — Spring break in United States
Nothing new starts in March.
Still on: Lakes frozen (10 Dec – 15 Mar (usually))
April in Minneapolis
Minneapolis weather in April →Shoulder season — an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in April.
May in Minneapolis
Minneapolis weather in May →Busy — one of its best months for weather
- Festival
Art-A-Whirl
15–17 MayMajor festivalThe third weekend of May, when hundreds of studios in the old Northeast warehouses open their doors at once. It is free, it is genuinely the artists' own event, and the breweries between them do the rest. Source ↗
June in Minneapolis
Minneapolis weather in June →Busy — Summer break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it
Nothing new starts in June.
July in Minneapolis
Minneapolis weather in July →Peak crowds — Aquatennial, Summer break in United States
- Festival
Aquatennial
18–26 JulMajor festivalCrowdedClosuresThe city's summer festival since 1940, built around the lakes and the river, with a torchlight parade and fireworks over the Mississippi on the closing night. Downtown streets close for the parade. Source ↗
August in Minneapolis
Minneapolis weather in August →Peak crowds — Minnesota State Fair, Summer break in United States
- Festival
Minnesota State Fair
27 Aug – 7 SepMajor festivalCrowdedBook earlyTwelve days ending on Labor Day, on its own permanent grounds between the two cities, and one of the best-attended fairs in the country. Two million people through the gates and everything served on a stick. Source ↗
September in Minneapolis
Minneapolis weather in September →Peak crowds — Minnesota State Fair, Summer break in United States
- Nature
Fall colour
25 Sep – 20 Oct · usuallyAutumn colourThe chain of lakes and the Mississippi gorge turn in the first half of October, a week or two after the north woods. The Grand Rounds path is the way to see it without a car.
Still on: Minnesota State Fair (27 Aug – 7 Sep)
October in Minneapolis
Minneapolis weather in October →Shoulder season — an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in October.
Still on: Fall colour (25 Sep – 20 Oct (usually))
November in Minneapolis
Minneapolis weather in November →Busy — Thanksgiving break in United States
Nothing new starts in November.
December in Minneapolis
Minneapolis weather in December →Busy — Winter / Christmas break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it
- Season
Lakes frozen
10 Dec – 15 Mar · usuallySki seasonBde Maka Ska and Harriet freeze hard enough to walk, skate and drag a fishing house onto, and the parks board grooms ski trails through the city. The ice comes off in March and nobody trusts it before it does.